Ash Herring

%E2%80%9CThe+happiest+moment+of+my+life+was+when+I+realized+that+my+family+was+accepting+who+I+am.+%5BI+am%5D+a+transgender+woman%2C+and+%5Bin+that+moment%2C%5D+I+felt+like+I+had+this+fear+taken+away.+%5BIt+was%5D+about+two+years+ago%2C+and+I+remember+realizing+that+my+parents+were+doing+everything+they+could%2C+and+while+they+werent+perfect%2C+I+finally+realized+how+much+effort+they+were+putting+in.+Its+made+my+home+life+a+lot+better%2C+there+have+been+fewer+arguments+with+my+family%2C+and+I+just+feel+very+liberated.+My+mom+%5Bwas+the+most%5D+accepting+when+I+came+out.+I+was+worried+before+because+I+didnt+know+how+accepting+she+would+be%2C+but+shes+made+appointments+to+talk+to+people+so+I+could+get+help+to+further+who+I+was+and+am.+On+the+other+hand%2C+my+%5Bolder%5D+brother+sometimes+struggles+with+it+because+he+has+a+hard+time+seeing+things+from+my+perspective%2C+as+hes+had+a+very+different+life.+In+general%2C+I+think+that+community+support%2C+whether+family%2C+friends+or+teachers%2C+is+the+best+thing+anyone+can+do+to+help+anyone%E2%80%9D+-+Ash+Herring%2C+10

Triya Gudipati

“The happiest moment of my life was when I realized that my family was accepting who I am. [I am] a transgender woman, and [in that moment,] I felt like I had this fear taken away. [It was] about two years ago, and I remember realizing that my parents were doing everything they could, and while they weren’t perfect, I finally realized how much effort they were putting in. It’s made my home life a lot better, there have been fewer arguments with my family, and I just feel very liberated. My mom [was the most] accepting when I came out. I was worried before because I didn’t know how accepting she would be, but she’s made appointments to talk to people so I could get help to further who I was and am. On the other hand, my [older] brother sometimes struggles with it because he has a hard time seeing things from my perspective, as he’s had a very different life. In general, I think that community support, whether family, friends or teachers, is the best thing anyone can do to help anyone” – Ash Herring, 10